(A) There is hereby created a Department of Tourism of the City of Mt. Vernon. The Department shall encourage, foster, promote, and stimulate conventions and tourism in the City of Mt. Vernon and shall acquaint and inform the public as to these objectives by providing information and other civic, educational, social, and public features and events we will encourage, foster, promote, and stimulate conventions and tourism in the City of Mt. Vernon. The Department of Tourism shall be under the direction and supervision of the City Manager.
(B) There is further hereby created a Tourism Board which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the City Manager and the City Council in the expenditure of funds and in the operation of the Department of Tourism. The Board shall consist of nine (9) appointed members and three (3) non-voting ex officio members. The nine appointed members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council and each member shall serve a term of three (3) years, which term shall commence May 1 and expire April 30 three years succeeding; the three year terms shall be staggered so that the terms of three members expire each year. The ex officio members shall be the Mayor of the City of Mt. Vernon, Chairman of the Jefferson County Board, and President of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. All appointed members shall be voting members and a majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum. Vacancies for appointed Board members shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term of the vacancy, and a vacancy for an ex officio member shall be filled by the successor in office. Each member shall serve without compensation. Failure of a member to attend three meetings during a calendar year shall subject the non-attending member to removal as a member of the Board upon recommendation of the Mayor and approval by the City Council.
(C) The City Council shall impose a tax upon gross rental receipts from the renting, leasing, or letting of hotel and motel rooms under the provisions of 65 ILCS 5/8-3-4, and all funds received from such tax shall be kept by the City Treasurer in the City Tourism fund to be used solely for the Department of Tourism.
(D) The Executive Administrator of the Department of Tourism shall be appointed by the City Manager and shall receive a salary within ranges determined by the City Council from time to time and fixed by the City Manager based upon performance and merit.
(E) The Executive Administrator of the Department of Tourism shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) To coordinate, recommend, and implement the Department of Tourism Programs.
(2) To be responsible for supervision, maintenance, and general housekeeping of Department of Tourism facilities under the control of the City of Mt. Vernon.
(3) To act as the Administrative Assistant to the Tourism Board of the City of Mt. Vernon and to keep all records of the Board, minutes of meetings for the Board, and to coordinate activities of the Board with the office of the City Manager.
(4) To be responsible for submitting yearly a fiscal proposed budget to the office of the City Manager.
(5) To handle all administrative duties concerning the Tourism Department for the City of Mt. Vernon as directed by the City Manager.
(6) To provide the Board and the City Manager with all programs of tourism which will be operated under the Department.
(7) To act as the City’s representative on all tourism matters and related organizations or groups or as directed by the City Manager and to assist and to make recommendations to appropriate civic organizations or groups.
(8) To provide a monthly and annual report of activities, costs, and projected activities to the City Manager and City Council.
(9) To perform such other duties as directed by the City Manager and the City Council.
(Prior Code, Art. 2, § 2.11)